Carrying it forward

Can anyone my age (or thereabouts) on up truly imagine what the world looks like to those of us born at the turn of the millenium? I want to know if my daughter, my little lily white daughter (notwithstanding the freckles across her nose and cheeks), I want to know what it's like for her and her peers... I mean, like, duh...a black man is president...so what already?! Geez mom, get with the times. Like that's a big deal or something. Puhleeeze.

In his speech, President Obama (Whew! it's exciting to write that!) said:

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

I want today's children to not be able to imagine a time when someone would be refused service based on skin color or cultural differences. I want racism to be a distant, and seldom visited, memory. What I'd like to see is the day when this is all so standard, so typical, so usual.

Truth be told, what I'd most like to see is Michelle Obama's acceptance speech. I mean, duh, of course a woman can be president. Geez, mom. What year do you think this is, anyway?

Let's not focus on the past. Let's move forward. Let's keep moving forward.